The Professionals

[Doc]

As in, the late 70s crime/action series, with Cowley, Bodie and Doyle from CI5.

Recently been watching them on DVD, having last watched them on TV 30 years ago.

Weren't they good? Somewhat politically incorrect in terms of sexism and aggressive driving of unenvironmentally friendly 3 litre Ford Capris, but somehow very watchable. Especially lines like:

Arrested gunman: 'I want a lawyer.'
Bodie (looking menancing): 'Why? Are you writing your will?'

Classic stuff.

 

[sandbender]

Classic stuff indeed Doc



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kahr5-EwtpU

 

[sandbender]

And while we're on the subject of nostalgia...

The Sweeney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqr4COXKO90

 

[andy_e]

Bravo, I think, has been showing the Professionals recently - classic!

Funny thing is, I remember rarely being allowed to watch it when I was a kid - too violent and racy perhaps - but I was still bought the Professionals Annual for Xmas - go figure! Is it any wonder I've grown up with an inherent mistrust of authority

 

[Tourist]

I was a Police Cadet doing my CID attachment in Salisbury when the Sweeny appeared on the box..........I was amazed at how, almost overnight, west country CID officers adopted the language, attitude and dress of Inspector Regan and Sgt Carter.

I used to like Special Branch.

 

[Aaron]

I am too young to remember it first time around but the re-runs always make me chuckle, particularly Martin Shaws permed hair. Apparently he held a veto on it being re-run for many years as he felt that the image of the show undermined his acting reputation. Dont know what truth there is in that.

 

[Toddy]

The phrase Eye Candy hadn't been invented but Bodie and Doyle........
Martin Shaw hasn't aged as well but Lewis Collins is still a good looking man

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Aaron]

My dad knew Lewis Collins uncle Tom Collins through the gunmaking trade. He blew himself up out the back of his shop by welding next to a keg of gunpowder. True story.

 

[Tony]

I remember getting sent to bed and creaping back into the living room and standing behind one of the chairs in the living room behind mum and dads chairs and watching it, great stuff. I saw quite a few of them but there must be loads that I missed.

The Sweeney was great as well.

We don't have TV at home so I don't even catch the reruns of stuff

 

[Tourist]

My dad knew Lewis Collins uncle Tom Collins through the gunmaking trade. He blew himself up out the back of his shop by welding next to a keg of gunpowder. True story.

Lewis used to be in Toms adverts in the shooting press, looking all mean and moody.

Fair play to the guy though, he joined the TA Paras [at Duke of Yorks down on the Kings Road] and did P Company and his jumps. Spotted him once at Browning Barracks when we were mooching around Aldershot one weekend........must have been 1979 - 1980.

 

[w00dsmoke]

We don't have TV at home so I don't even catch the reruns of stuff

You are such a lucky man! I lived for years without tv and had so much more peace and quiet than now! Now that I'm married, the house is filled with trash tv from morning to midnight and it drives me insane. The kids and my good lady will watch Maury, Trisha, Gerry Springer from dawn til dusk aaaaaagh trash tv...........my only admission is to watching the discovery channel when I get a chance! But I'd swap anything I owned for that blooming telly to be ejected forever into orbit!

 

[PurpleHeath]

i was born about a decade after the show was orignally aired, so i will never grasp the whole atomsphere of the period. however the show still highly entertaining, the charaters worked and interacted as a team amazingly well which made everything believable. the storys are clever (something rare on TV now.) the dialogue is brilliant, witty and just what you can imagine guys like Cowley, Bodie and Doyle would say. it's a just a shame that after only 57 episodes they called it a day after losing ratings to an inferior show like The Sweeny. although sometimes its best to leave you asking for more.

after discovering the show around two months ago i can't find a current show that can compete. its all rather disappointing, why can't modern show live this?

PH

 

[tyfy]

The Professionals, The Sweeney, Minder all showing on ITV4 if you have access to it.

Richard

 

[hiraeth]

My dad knew Lewis Collins uncle Tom Collins through the gunmaking trade. He blew himself up out the back of his shop by welding next to a keg of gunpowder. True story.

A good shop it was to, went there a couple of times, never saw lewis collins in the shop though.

 

[crazydave]

cor memories - running around in imatation leather jackets firing cap guns in public without the worry of getting shot by coppers, calling each other slags and telling everyone to shut it - brilliant.

did anyone else get the CI5 annual along with the beano? lots of guns and tales of carlos the jackal if I remember rightly.

then along comes political correctness and it all goes 180 degrees in the intended direction.

 

[British Red]

A good shop it was to, went there a couple of times, never saw lewis collins in the shop though.

Lewis was (and probably is) a more than fair pistol shot as it happens - I remember having a lane next to him once and being ready to laugh - and then not laughing at all - he was very good!

Red

 

[hiraeth]

Lewis was (and probably is) a more than fair pistol shot as it happens - I remember having a lane next to him once and being ready to laugh - and then not laughing at all - he was very good!

Red

Ahh talk of pistol shooting, still weeping over the loss of my pistols, was even talk in my club of trying to register with a club in France and keep them there but nothing came of it, great pity. Most people dont realise how diciplined and enjoyable sport it is.

 

[crazydave]

one of the biggest earners in prague is from stag do's and people who want to shoot going down to the gallerys and blasting away with all that ex warsaw pact stock. it is annoying that even the olympic teams have to go abroad to practise. the crims still have guns and even before the ban most guns came in illegally anyway so it was another of those pointless exercises to make us feel safer like the airport security checks, knife bans and speed cameras.

I am definately beside noel edmonds on his positivity thing

 

[ArkAngel]

Lewis used to be in Toms adverts in the shooting press, looking all mean and moody.

Fair play to the guy though, he joined the TA Paras [at Duke of Yorks down on the Kings Road] and did P Company and his jumps. Spotted him once at Browning Barracks when we were mooching around Aldershot one weekend........must have been 1979 - 1980.

I understand that he originally joined the TA as "preparation" for his upcoming film 'Who Dares Wins' released in 1982. He wanted to get it right and make it look like he could pass off as a special forces soldier.

Then found he enjoyed it as well and stayed in for a good number of years until he moved to Spain.

 

[Bob]

The Professionals - loved that programme as a kid!!

Wasn't there also a magazine (monthly?) that came out around the same time - I have vague memories of buying a branded mag that had interviews, behind the scenes stuff, possibly even 'picture stories' in it!

Anyone else remember it?!

Bob